TheNewsGuru

Tag: Bayer Leverkusen

  • Bayer Leverkusen manager, Alonso laments AFCON timing, set to miss five key players

    Bayer Leverkusen manager, Alonso laments AFCON timing, set to miss five key players

    Xabi Alonso the coach of German side, Bayer Leverkusen has cried out over the timing of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

    The next edition of AFCON will run from January 13 to February 11, 2024 in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Leverkusen will be without five regular stars during the period.

    Two Players,  Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella  could miss playing for Leverkusen for the period of AFCON if called to camp by Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro.

    Moroccan forward Amine Adli, Burkina Faso centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, and Ivorian defender Odilon Kossounou are the other players Leverkusen could miss during the AFCON finals.

    Alonso said it is a situation his team has to deal with.

    “It is a concern for January and February, perhaps not having five players. It is a reality. We have to accept that,” Alonso told Transfermarkt.

  • EPL: Newcastle eye on-form Nigerian attacker, Victor Boniface

    EPL: Newcastle eye on-form Nigerian attacker, Victor Boniface

    Newcastle United in the English Premier League  are considering making  a move to sign Nigerian and  Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface.

    Recall that Boniface joined Bundesliga outfit, Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian Pro League club, Union St Gilloise for €12m this summer.

    The well-built striker has caught the eye after netting nine times and providing three assists in 10 games for Bayer Leverkusen.

    UK Media Sun reports that, Newcastle United’s scouts watched him play in Portugal for Nigeria in the friendly against Saudi Arabia last weekend.

    The 22-year-old didn’t score but was a handful against the Saudis, causing problems in their backline which forced an own-goal.

    Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is keen on adding some physicality to his frontline and sees Boniface as a top target who would complement the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.

  • Why I want to play for Nigeria – Bayer Leverkusen forward, Tella

    Why I want to play for Nigeria – Bayer Leverkusen forward, Tella

    Bayer Leverkusen of Germany winger, Nathan Tella has revealed that he would love to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

    The forward was born in London by Nigerian parents.

    The 25-year-old is also eligible to represent England but instead has chosen to wear the green and white colour of Nigeria.

    In a recent interview with Bayer Leverkusen’s official website, the former Burnley player revealed his ambition to play for the Super Eagles.

    Tella further explained his decision in an interview with OmaSports.

    “I feel like it’s always been a big part of my life. I was born in London and I’ve been in England all my life, but at the same time my parents and grandparents are Nigerian, so I feel like it’s the bright route to go down so I wanna do something that makes my family proud as well.”

    The versatile winger, who joined Bayer Leverkusen from Sky Bet Championship club, Southampton this summer also spoke highly about the Super Eagles.

    “It’s a very talented national team, but I’ve always liked a challenge myself. The reason I’m here is to push myself and challenge myself. I wanted to play with better players, and with the national team, you’re playing with the best players in the country.

    ” By all means, I want to get to know them, play with them, learn from them and then get the opportunity to improve,” Tella said.

  • Xabi Alonso not bothered by latest Real Madrid rumours

    Xabi Alonso not bothered by latest Real Madrid rumours

    Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday he is not bothered by latest reports linking him with his former club Real Madrid.

    Spain’s Radio Marca reported this week that Real bosses had chosen Alonso as the man to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the helm in 2024, when Acelotti moves on to coach Brazil’s national team.

    “It is too early. It is September. That’s why it is not an issue. Of course I am staying focussed.

    “We have started well into the season and I must be the first one to continue in a focussed way,” Alonso said.

    He added that the issue wasn’t troubling his players because “they know the football business. It wasn’t an issue for any one of them. And we didn’t talk about it.”

    Alonso came to Leverkusen 12 months ago and led them from second-last to sixth in the Bundesliga. They have started strongly into the new campaign with four wins and a draw.

    They  trail leaders Bayern Munich on goal difference going into Saturday’s game at bottom club Mainz.

    Alonso played at Real 2009-2014 and won the Champions League with them in his final season. He also won the elite event with Liverpool, plus the 2010 World Cup and two Euros with Spain.

    The 41-year-old has previously been linked with the coaching job at the Bernabeu but renewed his Leverkusen contract two months ago until 2026.

    But Leverkusen are reportedly ready to let him go earlier if a very big club like Real want him.

  • Bundesliga: On-form Nigerian striker, Boniface scores brace in Leverkusen 4-1 drubbing of Heidenheim

    Bundesliga: On-form Nigerian striker, Boniface scores brace in Leverkusen 4-1 drubbing of Heidenheim

    On form Nigerian attacker, Victor Boniface has continued to impress for German clubside, Bayer Leverkusen as they recoreded a 4-1 victory against Heidenheim at the BayArena on Sunday afternoon.

    The Nigerian striker opened scoring in the 9th minute of the encounter.

    The 22-year-old netted Die Werkself’s third from the penalty spot 14 minutes from time.

    The Nigeria international has now scored six goals in five league appearances for Die Werkself.
    He is now the third-highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga, behind Serhou Guirassy  with 10 goals and Harry Kane with 7, while Boniface occupies the the third position with 6 goals.

    Bayer Leverkusen occupy the second position on the table, behind Bayern Munich.

  • Europa: Liverpool in comeback win, Brighton lose at home, Boniface scores for Leverkusen

    Europa: Liverpool in comeback win, Brighton lose at home, Boniface scores for Leverkusen

    Liverpool came from behind to defeat LASK of Austria by 3-1 to kick start their campaign in this season’s  Europa cup on a good note.

    Goals from Darwin Nunez, Luiz Daiz and Mohammed Salah ensured the English side secured all three points in the encounter.

    However, Brighton’s eagerly awaited European bow fell flat as Greek heavyweights AEK Athens stunned Roberto de Zerbi’s men with a 3-2 Europa League group stage victory at the American Express Stadium.

    The Seagulls twice pegged AEK back after Djibril Sidibe and Mijat Gacinovic had taken advantage of Lewis Dunk’s absence through injury to score from first-half set pieces.

    But, even with 13 minutes’ injury-time, Brighton had no answer after substitute Ezequiel Ponce converted a third after 84 minutes.

    Niclas Eliasson was given too much time to cross after Tariq Lamptey had slipped as AEK launched a speedy counter-attack, Ponce applying the finish.

    In Germany, Red hot Nigerian forward, Victor Boniface  scored a goal and also provided an assist in the dominant display for his German side Bayern Leverkusen as the secure their biggest win of the night in the Europa League on Thursday as they walloped Hacken 4-0.

    Elsewhere in Switzerland, another Nigerian, Igoh Ogbu, also had a good outing as he scored the second goal for Slavia Prague in their 2-0 win over Servette.

    Lukas Masopust scored the opener for the visiting Slavia Prague in the 32nd minute. Then Ogbu struck the second for the Czech side in the 59th minute.

    The 23-year-old midfielder played the entire 90 minutes for his side.

     

    Another Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman, was on the winning side as Atalanta pipped Rakow Czestochowa 2-0. Lookman featured for 76 minutes before he was replaced by Mario Pasalic

    Liverpool took time adjusting to life back in the Europa League but for the fourth time in six matches this season, they came from behind to win 3-1 against LASK in Linz.

    The situation was similar in London where West Ham also came from behind to beat TSC Backa Topola 3-1.

    In some of the other results from Thursday’s Europa League games, Roma secured a 2-1 win away to FCSheriff while Ajax and Marseille played out a pulsating 3-3 draw at the Johan Cruyff arena.

  • Bundesliga: Nigeria’s Boniface scoops Rookie of the Month award in Germany

    Bundesliga: Nigeria’s Boniface scoops Rookie of the Month award in Germany

    New kid on the bloc,  Nigerian  forward, Victor Boniface has scooped the Bundesliga award for the Rookie of the month for August.

    Bayer Leverkusen made the announcement via their platform X page on Friday night,

    The 22-year-old beat RB Leipzig winger Xavi Simons and Freiburg Nigerian born goalkeeper, Noah Atubolu to the award.

    Boniface made an impressive start to career at Leverkusen scoring four goals and making two assists  in first three appearances for the Bundesliga side.

    The former Union St. Gilloise striker is presently in camp with the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they set to clash with Sao Tome and Principe in a dead rubber AFCON qualifiers.

    The gangling attacker has been nominated for the Bundesliga Player of the Month.

     

  • Nigeria’s Boniface scores twice again as Leverkusen crush Darmstadt

    Nigeria’s Boniface scores twice again as Leverkusen crush Darmstadt

    New signing Victor Boniface scored twice for the second consecutive week as Bayer Leverkusen blew Darmstadt 98 away 5-1 on Saturday.

    The result meant Bayer Leverkusen made it three wins out of three league games for a perfect Bundesliga start.

    The 22-year-old Nigerian struck twice in last week’s win over Borussia Moenchengladbach while also netting in the German Cup once.

    He joined a month ago from Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium but has hit the ground running.

    Boniface opened his account with a superb solo run and chipped in his finish in the 21st minute after driving past three defenders.

    Darmstadt levelled through Oscar Vilhelmsson’s close range header but Xabi Alonso’s team went back in front four minutes after the restart through Exequiel Palacios.

    Boniface then bagged his second goal of the afternoon, slipping into the box and flicking the ball past the keeper from a tight angle after a quick passing move.

    Jonas Hofmann’s 20-metre drive made it 4-1, killing off any chances of a Darmstadt comeback.

    Substitute Adam Hlozek then slid in to add another and keep his team on a maximum nine points from three matches.

  • Bayer Leverkusen sign Man Utd goalkeeper for €9m

    Bayer Leverkusen sign Man Utd goalkeeper for €9m

    Bayer Leverkusen have announced the signing of Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

    The 23 year-old Czech Republic keeper joins Bayer for a €9m fee.

    Kovar spent last season on-loan with Sparta Prague, helping them win the league championship.

    He has penned a contract with Bayer to 2027.

    Kovar leaves United without making a senior appearance for the Red Devils.

  • Nigerian forward, Victor Boniface to sign for Bundesliga side, Bayer Leverkusen

    Nigerian forward, Victor Boniface to sign for Bundesliga side, Bayer Leverkusen

    Nigeria forward, Victor Boniface has undergone medicals at German side, Bayer Leverkusen and is expected to sign a five year deal that will expire in 2028.

    A deal that will keep the striker at the club till 2028 has been agreed by Bayer Leverkusen and Belgian Pro League club, Union St. Gilloise.

    Boniface scored plenty of goals for Union St. Gilloise last season.

    According to transfer expert, Patrick Berger, Boniface will pen a five-year contract upon completion of the medical checks.

    Union St. Gilloise will get €20m as transfer fee plus add-ons.

    Boniface is leaving Union St. Gilloise just a year after arriving from Norwegian club, Bodo/Glimt.

    The 22-year-old caught the eye of Leverkusen officials during last season’s UEFA Europa League clash against Union St. Gilloise.

    He registered six goals in the Europa League.